The Two Oceans Aquarium is the place to be these summer holidays. The Aquarium, showcasing more than 3000 animals, including sharks, penguins and turtles and now even frogs, will be open daily from 09h00 to 18h00 between 11 December 2009 and 11 January 2010.
The Aquarium is at the hub of the AQUAFestival, a three-week long music and entertainment festival of world-class local and international performances. Set on a floating stage off North Wharf against the backdrop of Table Mountain, the AQUAFestival will showcase contemporary opera, ballet, jazz, rock, pop, tribute shows and the ZipZap Circus from 15 December 2009 until 6 January 2010. Presented by HuntaLive, M-Net and the V&A Waterfront, AQUAFestival performances include the 53-piece Cape Town Philharmonic Orchestra, Cape Town City Ballet and home grown international performers such as FreshlyGround, Johnny Clegg, the Parlatones and the legendary Ladysmith Black Mambazo.
AQUAFestival tickets include a visit to the Aquarium and Shoreline Café at the Aquarium will provide catering throughout the Festival. “Not only do you get a ticket to the AQUAFestival , but you also get to see the Aquarium at its finest at night while enjoying a glass of wine either before or after the shows,” said Jillian Grindley-Ferris, Brand and Business Manager for the Aquarium.
The Aquarium has joined forces with two of Cape Town’s other top tourist icons - City Sightseeing Open-Top Tours and the Table Mountain Cableway. Together they have launched the Go Cape Town Card, an all-inclusive ticket for the three facilities. Visitors will pay only R360 per card, which includes a return trip on the Table Mountain Cableway, a day-ticket to the Two Oceans Aquarium and a ride on an open-top City Sightseeing Bus. Children under 18 years pay R180 per card. “The beauty of the card is that visitors no longer have to stand in queues at any of the attractions. In addition, by catching the City Sightseeing bus between the Mountain and the Aquarium, visitors don’t have to worry about parking” said Grindley-Ferris. The Go Cape Town card can be purchased at any of the three attractions, Cape Town Tourism offices or online at http://www.webtickets.co.za/ from 1 December 2009. The cards are valid for three months from date of purchase.
An all-weather venue, the Two Oceans Aquarium is the ideal destination for families wanting to escape the heat and bustle. Frogs-Beyond the Pond is a themed and highly interactive gallery which immerses visitors in the world of frogs and invites them to ‘jump in’ to find out more about these quirky yet extremely threatened creatures.
The AfriSam Children’s Centre, which looks onto the penguin pool, received a make-over earlier this year and now families are able to enjoy a beach atmosphere indoors. “The Beach” is the new theme for the Centre which is decorated in bright summery colours. Children are able to entertain themselves building sandcastles, watching puppet shows and creating works of art while parents can sit back with a cup of coffee and a snack and enjoy the antics of the rockhopper penguins while they swim and dive in the water.
Refurbishments have also taken place in Shoreline Café which has been transformed into a deli/self-service facility in which guests get to pick and choose their own snacks and refreshments. A breakfast and lunch buffet section caters to those wanting something more substantial than just a light snack. The ever-popular children’s play centre remains operational so parents can relax while their children work off some excess energy in the centre.
The Aquarium also indulges adventure seekers with opportunities to dive with ragged-tooth sharks, shoals of large predators, rays and two turtles in the I&J Predator Exhibit (minimum Discover Scuba qualification required) or with the silver fishes in the Kelp Forest Exhibit (Advanced divers).
For further information please contact the Two Oceans Aquarium on telephone 021-418-3823 or email aquarium@aquarium.co.za . Log on to http://www.aquarium.co.za/.
AQUAFestival
Dates: 15 December 2009 to 6 January 2010
Times: 14h00 to 15h00 – AQUACircus
20h00 – evening performances [duration 90 to 100 minutes]
NOTE: a second 22h30 performance is scheduled for 31 December
Venue: North Wharf, V&A Waterfront
Tickets: Available from Computicket
For more info: http://www.aquafestival.com/
GO CAPE TOWN CARD
Tickets: Available from Two Oceans Aquarium, Table Mountain Cableway, City Sightseeing Open-Top Tours, Cape Town Tourism offices and online at http://www.webtickets.co.za/
Cost: Adults: R360 per card, Under 18 years: R180 per card
For more info: www.gocapetown.co.za
